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He's Come A Long Way

Lois Kindle/Tampa Tribune

The staff of Lebelle's Home Décor Plus are, from left, Dai Singhprasert, owner; employee Trisha Rabuano; Angela Singhprasert, owner; and daughter, Alisha Singhprasert.

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

Updated: 02/21/2008 04:44 pm

RIVERVIEW - Dai Singhprasert spent his first 14 years living in a jungle in Thailand.

At the time, he said, his childhood ambition was to become a bus driver because every six months or so, a bus would come to his remote village. Little did he know that he would eventually travel the world and one day own a business in America.

On Jan. 24, Singhprasert and his wife, Angela, opened Lebelle's Home Store Plus in the Sweetbay Plaza in Riverview.

The couple wanted to start a business but didn't want to own a franchise. So they went to a Las Vegas-based business broker, who helped them narrow their decision down to a home decor and accessories store.

"There's nothing in Riverview for this type of store," Singhprasert said. "We figured this would be a perfect place for us, with all the development going on around us. We already lived here and liked the area. It's not too fast, not too slow, and it's close to our family."

The store carries all kinds of things for decorating, including home accessories, artwork, lamps and furniture. The "Plus" refers to personal items such as jewelry and handbags.

"We work with about 30 vendors," Singhprasert said. "We strive to carry unique items not found in other stores. There's something for everyone, regardless of income."

"It's really set up nice," said Lu Jean Corrado of Riverview. "I've been in the store a couple of times since it opened. It's a great place for decorating because it carries things you don't see anywhere around here."

Singhprasert came to the United States in 1979 but traveled with his father, who was in the Air Force. While the family was stationed in Japan, Singhprasert learned to speak English. He later graduated from high school and entered the Army, serving 13 years. Discharged in 2003, he became a detention deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and works full time at the Falkenburg Road Jail.

He also owns other property in South Shore and co-owns an independent music label called Cherokan Records with his partner, Dorian Childs.

Angela Singhprasert was born in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, in the Bavarian region of Germany. She met Singhprasert in 1988, when he was stationed there and working as a bouncer in a club. The couple married in 2002 and moved to the United States a year later, settling in Riverview. They have an 18-year-old daughter, Alisha, who is an East Bay High School honor student.

In 2005, Angela Singhprasert went to work for Wal-Mart and became a support manager, which entailed running a store overnight. She quit the job in January to prepare for the opening of Lebelle's, which she manages full time.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Lebelle's Home Store Plus

WHERE: 10625 Big Bend Road, Riverview

OWNERS: Dai and Angela Singhprasert

HOURS: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

INFORMATION: (813) 672-9683 or www.lebelles.com

Reporter Lois Kindle can be

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